February 3, 2011
AEP puts Lane Ave. project on hold By ANDREW MILLER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A closer look
The orange barrels along Lane Avenue in Upper Arlington came down earlier than expected, but not because the work has been completed. American Electric Power (AEP) halted construction Jan 27 after citing safety concerns for workers on this section of the transmission line installation project from Roberts Road to Ohio State University. “Motorists were traveling at speeds of 45 miles per hour in the 35 mph zone,” said Faye White, AEP Ohio spokesperson. White also said that some of the
American Electric Power (AEP) halted construction Jan 27 after citing safety concerns for workers on this section of the transmission line installation project from Roberts Road to Ohio State University.
construction equipment was larger than expected, making it difficult to safely operate with only two lanes of traffic closed. “I haven’t heard about any speeding
incidents,” assistant city manager Joe Valentino told ThisWeek Jan. 28. “During planning we offered to file the paperwork to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph but were told by the contractor it wasn’t necessary.” Valentino said the plan since July 2009 was for two lanes to be closed AEP agreed to that plan. The city won’t agree to shut down Lane Avenue, he said. “We’re going to have to have three lanes closed to do the work,” said Vikki Michalski, another AEP Ohio spokesperson. “Anytime we have a safety concern we take a step back and rework the plan.” The city agrees that safety is impor-
tant. Deputy city manager Emma Speight said the city’s prime concerns are safety, taking care of the residents’needs and completing this project on time. “Everyone involved has to agree” to accomplish those goals, Speight said. “It could be a couple of weeks to approve new plans and in the meantime Lane Avenue needs to be temporarily restored to full use during the work stoppage.” Michalski confirmed that AEP would work with the city to return the road to full usage and that any costs associated with these changes will be paid for by the company as a part of the project. Both Michalski and Speight said that
the organizations will continue to work together in good faith to complete the project. AEP began work on Monday to revise the project plan, but has not provided a new timeline for the Upper Arlington work. “At this time the plan is to still have the project done on time, with all of the project work completed by the end of year,” Michalski said. According to project documents, the Upper Arlington portion of the cabling project is to be completed by June, with the resurfacing of Lane Avenue to be done by late summer. www.ThisWeekNews.com
Estate tax elimination would be big loss for UA By CHRIS BOURNEA ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Photos by Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
Watershed Distillery founder Greg Lehman became interested in the idea of producing craft alcohol while playing volleyball professionally in Switzerland, where the town’s economy thrived on small-scale local production. The distillery began selling its gin and vodka in December and is aging barrels of bourbon that will be ready for consumption in 2013.
Micro-distilling operation open for business on Chesapeake Ave. By ALAN FROMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
For a video from Watershed Distillery, visit www.ThisWeekNews.com.
A new Tri-Village area business is bringing back the craft of micro-distilling. Last month, Watershed Distillery’s gin and vodka went on sale at stores, restaurants and bars around central Ohio. Being part of a community is a big reason he and his partner decided to go into the distilling business, Watershed founder and head distiller Greg Lehman said. “It’s getting involved in
said. The “Watershed” name was chosen in recognition “that the largest natural distiller is a watershed,” he said. “It’s also that starting the disWatershed Distillery founder Greg Lehman affixes a seal to the tillery was a watershed moment lid of a freshly poured bottle of vodka. for us,” said Lehman, who left Columbus and being part of the to bring our unique flavor and local community and being able product to the market,” Lehman See DISTILLERY, page A3
The elimination of the estate tax would have a devastating effect on Upper Arlington, city officials say. The Ohio General Assembly is currently considering House Bill 3, which would do away with the estate tax. Currently, Ohio imposes a 6-percent tax on estates that exceed $338,333 and a 7-percent tax on estates that exceed $500,000. While some municipalities receive estate-tax revenues so inconsistently that they don’t even include them in their annual budgets, Upper Arlington isn’t one of them, said finance director Cathe Armstrong. The estate tax has brought in an average of $3.6-million a year, or 12.7 percent of the city’s budget for the past five years, Armstrong said. In 2010 alone, the city received estate tax in the amount of $4.8-million. The city sets aside at least $2million of the estate tax each year for capital improvements, Armstrong said. “We, in recent years, have had some major projects along major thoroughfares,” she said. “We have a $40-million capital plan over the next five years.” Upper Arlington is a member of the Ohio Municipal League, which is trying to persuade the legislature to reconsider or at least delay the elimination of the es-
A closer look The Ohio General Assembly is currently considering House Bill 3, which would do away with the estate tax. Currently, Ohio imposes a 6-percent tax on estates that exceed $338,333 and a 7-percent tax on estates that exceed $500,000.
tate tax. “We have had discussions with other communities,” Armstrong said. “They identified us as one of the cities that stand to lose the most, along with some townships. “It’s the wrong time, too much too soon, to eliminate that much of our budget without having a replacement,” she said. “We know it’s an unpopular tax. It’s not our stance that it’s a good tax… but please don’t eliminate it today without giving us time to make some adjustments.” Council president Frank Ciotola said he’s long been opposed to the estate tax. “It’s an unfair tax,” he said. “You have to wait for someone to die to tax money that’s already been taxed.” Ciotola said he realizes, however, that the estate tax makes up a significant portion of the city’s budget and that its elimination will force him and other city ofSee ESTATE TAX, page A3
Community center comes up in ‘conversation’ on city facilities By ANDREW MILLER ThisWeek Community Newspapers When about 30 participants in a public “conversation” Jan. 27 discussed the facility options they’d like to see as part of the city’s revised master plan, an idea from the past was back on the table: a community center. The conversation was hosted by Upper Arlington City Council’s community facilities and services committee, chaired by council member Debbie Johnson. The committee is reviewing the 17 master plan facilities objectives adopted in 2001. The master plan is required to be reviewed every 10 years. Assistant city manager Joe Valentino and parks and recreation director Tim Moloney reviewed the current inventory of green space, schools, city buildings, nonprofit and for-profit meeting spaces
with the participants. Moloney also highlighted upcoming facilities like the skate park and volleyball courts planned for Reed Road as well as the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park. Participants were then asked Tim to name current or desired faMoloney cilities they would like to have in-depth conversations about for the remainder of the evening. The audience listed Tremont pool, Northam Park, the Senior Center, an indoor play space, a community center, Miller Park, a public square, street and traffic amenities and the old Coach Road fire station, which is being used by the Parks and Recreation Department and has been dubbed the “recreation station.”
Four groups were formed to discuss the ideas. Valentino instructed each group to record comments made during the discussions and report their ideas to the larger group. The largest breakout group discussed the recreation station Joe and a possible community cenValentino ter and indoor play area. After reviewing several options for the space, the majority said they would like a multi-generational, possibly multi-jurisdictional, community center — one they compared to the Worthington Recreation Center. Group members said they believe the recreation station should be used for programming asis until a community center can be developed, and then it should be razed for public green-space.
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6100 editorial@thisweeknews.com Sports: (740) 888-6054 sports@thisweeknews.com Retail ads: (740) 888-6000 www.thisweeknews.com/advertise Classified: (740) 888-5003 classified@thisweeknews.com Customer Service: 1-888-837-4342
View exclusive videos, stories, photos and more. Connect with other fans, parents and athletes. CHAT WITH YOUR FRIENDS, CHEER ON YOUR TEAM.
“I know I drive 10 miles, but I love the feel of the Worthington rec center, which is why I’m a member,” resident Erin Shumacher said. “I want that here.” The second largest group discussed facilities linked to Northam Park, particularly the Senior Center. Several of the participants — current members of the center — said the facility needs better handicapped accessibility on all sides of the buildings and better upkeep. Three furnaces have failed so far this winter, they said. In the future, they said they would like a large complex to be built to host multiple generations of residents, including senior programming, and an indoor pool to replace the Tremont Pool. “I find it interesting how two separate groups talking about two separate things came to the See CENTER, page A3